The holiday season is a busy time for businesses of all sizes, but it can be especially challenging for small businesses. With a limited marketing budget and staff, it can be difficult to compete with the big retailers who dominate the holiday season. However, there are some things that small businesses can do to get noticed and drive sales during the holiday rush. Here are nine holiday marketing tips for small businesses courtesy of the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce:

1. Post Interactive Content

People love sharing festive, interactive content on social media, so take advantage of this by creating and sharing quizzes, polls, and surveys on your company’s blog and social media channels. Not only will this help increase engagement with your brand, but it will also give you valuable insights into what your customers want this holiday season.

2. Hold Giveaways

Everyone loves getting free stuff, so why not hold a holiday-themed giveaway or contest? This is a great way to generate buzz about your brand and attract new customers. Just be sure to promote your giveaway or contest across all of your channels and make it easy for people to enter.

3. Make a PDF Gift Guide

If you’re not sure what to get someone for the holidays, then chances are they’re not either. Help them out by creating a gift guide on your blog or social media channels that features items from your store. Be sure to include a mix of price points to appeal to everyone on your list. You can even write several gift guides for different shoppers, then just split them into separate PDFs. This is a great way to offer a more personalized touch.

4. Have Holiday Packaging

Make your products stand out from the competition by choosing festive packaging that reflects the spirit of the season. This will not only make your products look more appealing, but it will also make them more likely to be purchased as gifts. If you sell online, consider offering gift-wrapping services as well.

5. Engage with Customers on Social Media

Social media is a great way to connect with customers and create a sense of community around your brand. During the holidays, be sure to post festive content, run social media contests, and offer exclusive discounts and promotions to your followers. And don’t forget to respond promptly to any questions or concerns no one wants to deal with slow customer service during the holidays.

6. Host a Holiday Event

Get people in the door by hosting a special event at your store or office during the holidays. This could be anything from an ugly sweater party to a holiday-themed open house featuring festive food and drinks. Be sure to promote your event across all of your channels to attract as many people as possible.

7. Support a Favorite Local Charity

Nothing says “holiday spirit” like giving back, so consider partnering with a local charity this season. You could host a donation drive at your store or office, sponsor a toy drive, or volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Not only will this make you feel good, but it will also generate positive publicity for your business.

8. Reward Loyal Customers                                                                                 

Don’t forget about the people who have been supporting your business all year long. Show them how much you appreciate their loyalty by offering exclusive discounts and promotions this holiday season. You could also send out personal thank-you notes or give them early access to holiday sales—whatever you do, make sure they know how much you value their business.

9. Partner with Local Businesses

During the holidays, people are looking for unique gifts that can't be found at big box stores so why not partner with other local businesses to create special holiday bundles? This is a great way to cross-promote each other's businesses and generate some extra revenue during the busy holiday season. Plus, it's a win-win for everyone involved: customers get unique gifts and businesses get exposure to new audiences.

The holidays are an important time for small businesses because they provide an opportunity to increase sales and attract new customers. If you want your business to succeed this holiday season, then start planning now. Use these nine tips as a starting point for developing your holiday marketing strategy and don’t forget to have fun along the way!

Join the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce to network with other local entrepreneurs and access valuable resources for helping your business grow.